The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge by Jeremy Narby
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Book Reviews of The Cosmic Serpent: DNA and the Origins of Knowledge
Book Review: Extremely Thought Provoking!
Summary: 5 Stars
In "The Cosmic Serpent", Jeremy Narby shares both his mental & physical journey concerning shamanism & the biochemical, neurological, and pharmacological information understood by the shamans of various "indigenous" peoples of the Amazon. This is truly an amazing journey!
Through his travels & research, Narby realizes that the Amazon forest can be likened to a huge pharmacy - and that the "natives" would have to have some form of biochemical/neurological/pharmacological knowledge & insight in order to combine & create their various "medicines". But how could they obtain such knowledge without all of the "fancy" scientific tools we have here in "civilization"?
Narby finds his answer after spending time with a well-respected shaman in the Amazon - the knowledge is imparted to them while in a hallucinogenic trance brought on by a brew called ayahuasca, which Narby decides to try for himself, resulting in some really intense insights into mind, body, and soul.
It's the author's hypothesis that shamans, with the aid of ayahuasca, are able to take their consciousness down to the molecular level, which allows them access to biomolecular information. But, because of the scientific tendancy toward rationalism, no research is considered to understand this further.
One of the most interesting parts of this book for me was the discussion concerning DNA & its' possible link to the double serpents/double helix revered in many indigenous societies - are they already aware of what we know about DNA? Could they know even more?
I recently saw a documentary re: an anthropological find where several statues were found that showed 2 serpents. From these statues, the scientists determined that this ancient civilization worshipped a snake or serpent God. After reading this book, I had to wonder if maybe they're wrong...
Overall, I found this to be an interesting, thought provoking, page-turning read. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in spirituality, shamanism, anthropology, & the biological sciences - it has a lot to offer!
Book Review: A little short for the reach of its goal
Summary: 5 Stars
The book is extremely interesting, no doubt about it, but if the reader is seeking information about ayahusca trips, there are no significant anecdotes. The author only provides a few details about its first experience.
As an anthropologist, he is bewildered by the large amount of wisdom and information displayed by shamans he met, about the environment and the uses of plants. Many of the medicines they posses, are extracted from different specimens by elaborated processing methods. However they lack any technological means to gather data about their biochemical properties. So, the obtainment of the final result only by chance is almost impossible. When he inquired how the information is obtained, the response is usually the same - The plants "told" it to the shamans - while drinking ayahuasca.
So the author decides to find out how is it possible that while having hallucinations a person can reach veritable data with wonderful practical uses, and his conclusion is fascinating. In a nutshell, when drinking ayahuasca a shaman - or any person with an open mind - can communicate in a defocalized consciousness with the global network of DNA- based life.
He is humble enough to recognize that his methods and mental associations of mythological images, biochemistry, history, DNA, are for the moment nothing more that a plausible proposition. Nevertheless most of those who have drink this not so tasty beverage, can attest that their experience would challenged their preconceptions about themselves and the world they live in.
Book Review: Triangular Universal Paradox; Mind Embraces Soul thru Body
Summary: 5 Stars
The quantitiy and range (1 thru 5) of reviews on The Cosmic Serpent are a Self-Fulfilling Testament to Narby's achievement;he has inspired us to Think and Commune our thoughts around a rare Qaulity of Questioning which authentically enriches our potentials to pass intrigue in living to future generations. Narby is only one man. He states clearly throghout the book that during this fantastic and courageous journey he had more questions than answers. While it is, no doubt, true he is far from the foremost authority on DNA in scientific circles today, readers sincerely concerned about technical clarity can investigate that for themselves. In the meantime, his unpretensious willingness and talent for communicating about this complex scientific arena in terms lay readers can really "get," opens doors to inner exploration and inquiry usually reserved to the scientific elite.
I could say so much more. Let me sum up my impressions posing to
reader's at large the most aluring idea Narby left in my mind--Communing with soul energies in neighboring demensions could become a quantum leap more comfortable and openly common if the idea that DNA patterns emitting tracable light is accepted as the rational basis for "how" we can see them. Unfolding universal truth is a process subject to the of shifting perspectives through the sands of time. Narby invites the reader to dare to acquaint ourselves with the map of Eternal Mind within our very own beings and see how that reflects on our individual understanding and relationship with God.
Book Review: do you communicate with plants?
Summary: 5 Stars
a facinating account of an antropologists journeys into the world of indiginous knowlege and utter amazement at the depth of knowlege that these "uneducated" shamans have regarding DNA (which they call "language twisting twisting") and mitosis and medicinal properties of plants. Also includes a very interesting set of statistics (you are welcome to view a post at gotblogua for my redigestion and investigation of these statistics) about the likelihood that the complexity of life that we observe as the result of evolution, could have actually emerged by pure chance...
Which raises a few questions i have for you:
Do you believe in evolution as a process of diversication of life via genetic mutations?
If so, do you believe that the primary driving force of these advantageous genetic mutations is random chance?
Do you believe that DNA is a language?
Do you believe that the use of language is a sign of intelligence?
Please consider sharing your answers with me via email
or via the comments page at gotblogua
regardless of what you prefer to think and or believe about these questions, i promise you that this book will engage you to think about them at great depths, providing a balanced and enlightened perspective grounded both in personal experience and solid scientific research.
Book Review: the first sparks dawn in the vast darkness of reason
Summary: 5 Stars
Ayahuasca is not a "drug" in the traditional sense, it is an orally activated dose of naturally occuring dimethyltryptamine. Your brain produces this same substance naturally and uses it to transmit information, although the way this works is still largely unexplored. The ayahuasqueros's of the Amazon use this same substance to gain a deeper perception of the world around them. There presently exists in humankind a chasm between those who "know" and those who understand that they do not know. Those who know are limited by the structures of reason they have erected in order to feel safer in the vastly paradoxical wonder that is life. The same structures that provide illusory safety, sadly, often blind them to the Truth.
What is a human being? Do you know?
If a thing has a name, does that mean we understand what it is?
Perhaps J. Narby has begun to bridge the gap for those who seek only within rigid constraints. Perhaps these houses will begin to crumble and those in them will begin to see that they were always safe, they were always home, there is only boundless wonder waiting in all directions.
I recommend this book, but beyond the first steps of investigation and research; I recommend imbibing, immersing, and including yourself in the place that has always been your home.